Readers' letters | Church and state; heroin help

Church and state

A July 27 C-J article describes a suit by a same-sex Louisville couple seeking the right to be deemed married under Kentucky law. In that article, Rep. Stan Lee was quoted voicing his opposition to the idea. He reportedly said that America is a Christian country and certain standards need to be upheld. I beg to differ.

America is not a "Christian" country. The founders saw what took place in the colonies where people's consciences were not permitted to be their guide. People were expelled from colonies or jailed because they did not espouse the established religion. With good reason, the Constitution contains a provision that government shall not prescribe any religion.

Thank goodness our country is a non-sectarian one, not Christian, not Muslim, not Jewish or any other type of religious one. We are free to have and to join religious groups that despise and shun homosexual people. It is wrong, however, to seek to have the government conform to one set of beliefs and to deprive a particular people of their rights under our system of government.

LYNN JAMISON

Louisville 40219

Heroin help

The actor Cory Monteith of "Glee" fame played a talented but vulnerable high school student that most everyone could relate to. His sad and unnecessary death leaves a hole in the hearts of "Gleeks," and many will miss seeing what this bright young man might have accomplished in his fast-growing career. Many youth, and even fans "of a certain age," feel a palpable loss.

Monteith's death brings new attention to a problem we must be aware of - the resurgence of heroin use. Our region and state have seen sharp increases in overdoses and deaths, and local treatment providers and police departments confirm that heroin use is rising as prescription painkillers become less available due to new prescribing requirements and the reformulation of drugs to prevent abuse. Youth and young adults may be particularly vulnerable to this new threat, and parents should know the signs of abuse and talk to their kids about this highly addictive and very dangerous street drug.

Youth should know that unlike prescription painkillers, heroin is manufactured illegally and in uncontrolled environments. Determining what dose will get you high as opposed to what dose will kill you isn't easy. Heroin's street names are Smack, H, Ska, Junk, Big H, Blacktar, Brown sugar, Dope, Horse, Junk, Mud and Skag. Warning signs might include behavior changes, hanging out with a new group of friends, missing money and/or financial problems, selling personal possessions, difficulty concentrating, wearing long sleeves or long pants in hot weather to cover needle marks, pasty skin and rapid weight loss, slowed, dull speech with nodding off and constricted pupils.

Help for heroin addiction and abuse is available. If you know someone with mental health or substance abuse concerns, help is available by contacting the Seven Counties Services access line at (502) 589-1100 or the 24-hour Hope Now Hotline at (502) 589-4313. Remember - talk to your kids early and often. You'll never regret it.

PATTY GREGORY

Seven Counties Services Regional Prevention Center

Louisville 40202

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Readers' letters | Church and state; heroin help

A July 27 C-J article describes a suit by a same-sex Louisville couple seeking the right to be deemed married under Kentucky law. In that article, Rep. Stan Lee was quoted voicing his opposition to